'Manoa Rapist' is denied parole

A man known as the "Manoa Rapist" for a series of attacks 25 years ago was denied parole yesterday.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority held a hearing for John Freudenberg, 47, but its members were not moved by his words of contrition.

"The state's very pleased the community will be safer for at least another year," said Lori Wada, the prosecutor and coordinator of the domestic violence and misdemeanor division.

ADMISSION OF GUILT

In 1983, John Freudenberg admitted guilt to the following charges:
>> Four counts of first-degree rape.
>> Three counts of first-degree attempted rape.
>> Four counts of first-degree sodomy.
>> One count of first-degree attempted sodomy.
>> Seventeen counts of first-degree burglary.
>> Six counts of first-degree sex abuse.
>> Two counts of first-degree attempted burglary.

Freudenberg pleaded guilty to 37 counts of rape, sodomy and burglary in 1983 in connection with a 14-month crime spree.

He was an honor student at the University of Hawaii and was 23 when he was sentenced to life in prison.

Since serving a minimum 14-year sentence in 1996, Freudenberg has been required to appear before the paroling authority every year.

Freudenberg said he has a debt to his victims to live a life as blameless as possible and requested a second chance to live his life the way he should have, adding that his crimes continue to fill him with a tremendous sense of guilt.

"It hasn't lessened much over the years," he said. "I don't want to be the person I was when I did those crimes."

Freudenberg admitted there is no guarantee he would not re-offend, but added, "I would do anything to avoid re-offending again. I'd rather be dead than re-offend again."

Freudenberg's attorney, Eric Seitz, said his client had been denied the chance to prove he has reformed. The Department of Public Safety, which is in charge of prisoners, failed to offer Freudenberg a spot in the work furlough program as the parole authority had recommended, Seitz said.

Freudenberg volunteers by counseling other sex offenders in prison, said Seitz, who suggested the authority should avoid unnecessary delay and release his client with strict conditions.

"I can be on the shortest leash that you want," Freudenberg said.

But prosecutor Wada asserted that Freudenberg was still too young and virile to be released.

"He's still young enough to go out and do the crimes and prey on people in the community," she said.

She called him an intelligent but manipulative person and questioned whether he has been reformed, citing his second enrollment into a sex offender treatment program because of alleged transgressions.

Most of Freudenberg's 16 victims have moved away from Hawaii, she said.

Paroling authority Chairman Al Tufono told Freudenberg the board was unconvinced he is able, at the time, "to comply with the terms and conditions of the parole board."